The most significant wilderness bill in 10 years would protect 237,000 acres in 13 areas across Northern California and add 50,000 acres to the Cow Mountain Recreation Area east of Ukiah.

This past week, Congress approved HR 233, the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Act, authored by Mike Thompson of California (First Congressional District). It now goes to the U.S. Senate, where Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said she would track the bill for hearing and approval.

Here is a lowdown on the areas, listed alphabetically:

Black Butte River: This is a 21-mile tributary of the Middle Fork Eel River east of Covelo and provides spawning habitat for steelhead.

Cache Creek: This 27,000-acre wildland east of Clear Lake is home for the second largest wintering area in California for bald eagles, a herd of tule elk, and Cache Creek provides the closest whitewater sports to the Bay Area.

Elkhorn Ridge: An 11,000-acre parcel located northwest of Laytonville that features the South Fork Eel River, the last remaining long-run coho salmon, small groves of old-growth Redwoods and whitewater sports.

Cedar Roughs: This 6,300-acre property is now managed by the Bureau of Land Management and shelters the largest grove in the world of rare Sargent cypress and a black bear breeding area, located west of Lake Berryessa.

King Range: This is the crown jewel of the Wild Heritage Act, more than 42,000 acres in the remote King Range on the Lost Coast, the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in the U.S. outside of Alaska.

Mount Lassic: This little-known area is part of Six Rivers National Forest just west of Ruth Lake and features views of the Coast Range, the headwaters of the Van Duzen River, towering rock formations, trails to mountain peaks and covers 7,200 acres.

Sanhedrin Mountain: This mountain is located 15 miles east of Willits with spectacular 360-degree views of the Pacific Ocean, the Bay Area, and on clear days, Mount Shasta.

Siskiyou: 30,000 acres covering some of California's most remote unroaded national forest, including one my favorite spots on the planet, the headwaters of Blue Creek, and on the other side of the divide, the Gunbarrel Trail.

Snow Mountain: 23,700 acres would be added to the existing wilderness, including Bloody Rock and 10 miles of Eel River Canyon, with this range providing key wintering habitat for deer.

South Fork Eel: This watershed wilderness would cover 12,900 acres, located east of Leggett, and features a little-known dwarf forest on top of Red Mountain, and habitat for spawning steelhead and salmon, and many rare species of plants.

Trinity Alps: This 22,800-acre parcel would be added on the little-known western edge of the existing Trinity Alps Wilderness in Humboldt County, and features many trails and spawning habitat for salmon and steelhead at Horse Linto and Red Cap creeks.

Yolla Bolly: A 27,000-acre piece that is located on the Middle Eel River 10 miles northeast of Round Valley and shelters old-growth forest, meadows and deep canyons, and provides cool water for the state's last major run of summer-run steelhead.

Yuki: A 53,800-acre swath across the Middle Eel near Covelo, and with the new Yolla Bolly, would further protect summer steelhead.

Cow Mountain: The addition to the Cow Mountain Recreation Area is rough, often hot and remote, an ideal destination for riding dirt bikes and ATVs. It is also an excellent off-season hiking destination for treks to ridge-top lookouts in the Mayacamus Range for views of Clear Lake and beyond.